Sheet metal table edge clamp



April I 54 o. w. SOLUM SHEET METAL TABLE EDGE CLAMP Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UN I TE D STATES PAT EN T OFFIC E SHEET'METAL TABLE EDGECLAMP Odd Walter Solum, Larvik, Norway ApplicationMay'll, 1950", SeriaLNo. 161,323

Claims priority, application Norway May 18, 1949 2; Glaims.

l The present invention relates to a clamp, more particularly designed for use for attachment to an edge portion of a table top or similar structure to secure different objects thereto. It is one of the objects of the invention to obtain a simple structure which can be manufacturedjat low cost. To this end the invention consists in a clamp, the main portion or frame of which is formed from a stamping of sheet material. The invention further consists in a construction in which said frame has spaced longitudinally extending portions united to each other at one or both ends and laterally extending portions of U-shaped cross-section, one of which constitutes a jaw of the clamp, while the other secures a nut for the engagement of a clamping screw, all of said portions being formed from the integral blank. The invention further consists in the construction as more specifically hereinafter described.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is an elevation of the finished clamp; Fig. 2 is an end View, viewed from the right of Fig. 1; and V Fig. 3 illustrates the sheet stamping or blank from which the frame of the clamp is formed.

The blank or stamping comprises a longitudinally extending narrow portion 8 having portions I' and 2 extending laterally therefrom. The portion 2 extends from the central portion of 8 and the portions I extend from the opposite end portions of 8 and are spaced from the portion 2. The portion I at the upper end, as shown in Fig. 3, has a downwardly extending portion I separated from the portion 8 by a slot or cutout I3. The lower end of the blank, as in Fig}; 3, has an extension I0, I0 and l I beyond the lateral extention I'. There are also apertures 2I, 22, 2B and 21 located to register in pairs in spaced portions of the completed frame. This framegas illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed by bending the blank along transverse lines I4 and I5..to form a U-shaped structure, the bottom of which is the portion 2 and adjacent portion of 8 while the portions I of the longitudinally extending portion 8 are brought in spaced parallel relation. There are also portions 2 of the portion 2 on opposite sides of the lines I4 and I5 which are in parallel registration and form with the portion 2, a structure of U-shaped cross-section. The portions I at the opposite ends of the blank are brought into registration, and the portion'I' is bent along the line I8 to extend at right angles to the original plane, while a further extension I2 of the portion I is bent along the line I'9*at right'angles tothe portion I and is parallel and in contact with the'registering portion I. Thus, by securing this flange portion I2 to the portion I with which it contacts as by soldering or welding, a structure of U-shaped cross-section is developed. The portion I0 is bent at right angles to the original plane along the line I6 and the portion II is bentpat right angles to the portion I0 along the line II. This flange portion II is secured to the registering portion of 8 as at 9 by soldering or welding, which thus connects the spaced portion I at opposite ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

Thus, the completed frame illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 includes the parallel spaced longitudinal portions I, I having an integral connecting portion therebetween at the lower end while at the upper end they are connected by the portion I0. The laterally extending portions are each of U-shaped cross-section with the channels therein opening upward. The lower lateral extension 2 has placed in the channel thereof the nut 6 which is secured by clinching the opposite sides 2 of the U to the same. A screw 4 engaging the nut has a knurled handle portion 5 at its lower end while at its upper end it has a swivel connection to a jaw member 3, which latter extends in between the parallel portions I, I to be guided thereby. Also, in the completed clamp the apertures 26 and 21 are aligned with each other and the apertures 2I and 22 likewise aligned. If desired the blank may be provided with extensions 24 and 25 (not shown in Fig. 3) which are respectively bent at right angles at the outer end of the portion I and form one of the portions I, each being provided with an aperture therein which align with each other in the formed structure.

In use the clamp may be secured to the edge portion. of a table top, shelf, and any equivalent structure and secured by turning the screw 4 through its handle 5 to clamp the jaw 3 on one face of the supporting structure while the portion I engages the opposite face. The articles to be held by the clamp, such as the rods 20 and 23, may be inserted through the aligned apertures, the rod 20 being vertical and the rod 23 horizontal. Also, a similar rod, not shown, may be inserted through the aligned apertures 26 and 21. Any article may be thus held if it is provided with a shank insertable through any pair of aligned apertures.

I claim:

1. A clamp formed from an elongated sheet metal stamping which is bent transversely of its length, said clamp comprising a frame having two spaced, parallel, U-shaped and registering side members, the outer edge of one leg of one U-shaped side member being integrally joined to the corresponding edge of a leg on the other U-shaped side member to provide a channel shaped leg for the clamp, the inner edge of the other leg of said one U-shaped side member having a right angle flange integral therewith and connected to the corresponding edge of a leg on the other U-shaped side member to provide a flat faced stationary jaw for the clamp, the outer ends only of the base portions of the U- shaped side members being connected to provide a longitudinal slot in the base portion of the clamp, a nut secured in the outer end of the channel shaped leg, a clamping screw extending through said channel shaped leg and through said nut and directed toward said stationary jaw and a movable jaw plate swivelled on the inner end of said screw and non-rotatably guided in the longitudinal slot in the base portion.

4 2. The construction as in claim 1 provided with aligned apertures in spaced portions of the sheet metal structure for receiving a rod inserted therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,245,744 Leibner Nov. 6, 1917 1,332,442 Kane Mar. 2, 1920 1,391,828 Hachman Sept. 27, 1921 1,559,866 Greathead et a1 Nov. 3, 1925 1,658,436 Greathead et a1. Feb. 7, 1928 1,705,902 Dautch Mar. 19, 1929 1,794,976 Mueller Mar. 3, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 663,646 Germany Aug. 10, 1938 

